Metal-chair upholstery



Aug. 26, 1930.

B. M. STANNARD METAL CHAIR UPHOLSTERY Filed Aug. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BRUCE .M. STANNARD' BYfM ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1930. B. M. STANNARD 1,774,190

' METAL CHAIR UPHOLSTERY Filed Aug. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BRUCE M. STAN NARD [.76 v INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED sTATEs' PATENT OFFICE BRUCE M. STANNARD, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BREWER- TITCHENER CORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METAL-CHAIR UPHOLSTERY Application filed August 27, 1928. Serial No. 302,173.

The present invention relates to embellishing means for paneled metal chair members and more particularly such as are provided with similarly formed upholstered seat and 6 back members of the folding type. An object is to provide for a chair or other furniture parts to which cushioned upholstery fabric may be neatly and firmly secured in an improved and novel manner by the use of a sectional panel frame providing for an annular body-contacting face and into which frame there is inserted an upholstered pad plate adapted to be secured in place to said face annulus. A further object consists in constructive features; that facilitate rapid and economical securement of said upholstery on a productive scale, and when applied to a collapsible chair, admit of folding the compl'ementary upholstered back and seat faces upon each other for protective' purposes. Embodied herein are further structural details designed to' accomplish the foregoing and related purposes, all of which will be more explicitly set forth hereinafter.

The devices herein disclosed are especially applicable to upholstery pads adapted to be mounted'upon a sheet-metal understructure such as provides for a relatively non-stretchable reenforcing plate or other fabric cover backing means that is purposely ke t substantially rigid against transverse loa ing. The

rim of said plate may be embraced by a depending fiange or rabbet-like element adapted to cooperate with my upholstery attacl1- 35 ing means. A cushioning medium may be placed. upon the seating face of said plate and afabric cover applied thereover. The present improvements are primarily directed to perfecting an effective but simple endless hoop means for securing attractively patterned upholstery fabric to said metal understructure, a properly sized hoop being tightly forced over said rabbet and serving to clamp the fabric margin therebetween. is initially shaped up to closely conform with the backing rabbet contour and is given a suitable strap heft and (liametral size such as will cause a substantial hoop stretch while it is being forced into place. As will be understood, an endless binding device of this 'rikoid and the like impregnate Said hoop character is intended to remain permanently associated about the fabric untilvit may become necessary to reupholster the chair seat.

It is preferred during installation, to place the cover fabric in direct contact with the innermost surface of the embracing hoop and thus afford an adequate frictional drag on part of the interposed fabric while the ring is being simultaneously sprung down evenly all around the fabric border. My hoop is made to perform a doublefunction in that it serves both to stretch and to maintain the fabric cover in such relation. The resulting ample initial stretching causes the spanning fabric portion to be tautly and uniformly tensioned in all directions and thus better counteracts tendency on part of the attached upholstery to develop slackness.

Due to inherent filler strand restraint, certain kinds of fabrics have heretofore been found rather diflicult to employ in a satisfactory manner as seat upholstery covers; this is especially characteristic of dope coated upholstery material such as pyrox lin, fabfabrlcs which my method is particularly adapted to handle advantageously.

By virtue of my upholstery appliances, ultimate fabric sag that is to say any abnormal loosening up, may be obviated by imparting sufficient initial stretch to the cover while it is bein applied in place, although it is to be un erstood that owing to fabric behavior, a portion of such prestretching is likely to become dissipated with lapse of time. As applied'to a medium-weight of upholstery stock, an initial stretch of from 5 to. 15 pounds per inch of fabric Width generall suflices to produce the results contemplate process but facilitates slippage on part of the fabric while it is being stretched thereover. Upon completing the pad installation, the surplus fabric is trimmed closely adjacent to the outermost ring contour.

It is further emphasized that the cooperative relation existing between said sealing band and the cushioned plate is such that my hoop-like binding means does not at anytime exert a pull upon the fabric that falls in excess of the cited initial stretching tension given to the pad cover the reason being that the fabric tension is relieved rather than augmented Whenever an upholstered seat as equipt with my improvements becomes fu'll loaded in service; it will be apparent there ore that said reenforcing plate or relatively rigid backing acts to prevent any undue pull strain being imposed upon either the fabric cover or upon the sealin ring. This feature assumes a special signi cance when applied in combination with my frictional type of binder ring in that said reenforcing plate prevents said ring from being dislodged under heavy seat load.

My pad is firmly held in place by the use of but a single endless binding means which constitutes the sole fabric securement and requires no supplementary crimping or like deformation relative to the embraced crown plate flange. This simpleexpedient not only facilitates production Work but allows the assembly to be rapidly and eifectively carried out in a single operation by the use of a power-driven assembly press. Further-; more, by the use of a surrounding panel framework adapted to mount the aforesaid upholstered pad, the fabric need not extend out to the marginal edge of the frame, in-

stead the pad binder ring for at least a-portion of its length, is purposely kept inwardly spaced from said marginal edge, to the end that the panel trim effect may be heightened. Such disposition allows of effectively contrasting the color scheme between said over fabric and its circumscribing' panel ace.

My improved panel mounting also obviates the soiling or wearing through of the fabric border and there is further produced a decided saving in upholstery material as compared to fastening devices requiring the fabric to be carried out to the panel. erimeter; as a consequence, it becomes possi 'le to utilize the finer high-grade and more expensive upholstery fabrics without unduly raising the fabrication cost of the finished panel product.

Reference is had to the annexed two sheets of drawin s which are illustrative of.certain s eci c embodiments of my invention, like 0 aracters of reference indicate like parts, and in which drawings: .Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding chair assembly equipt with my improvements as set during its installation,

up into open position and indicating in partial dotted outline, the preferred pivoted mode by which my upholstered back member may be collapsed upon its seat.

Fig. 2 represents a front view of the opened chair shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shows a top view thereof.

Fig. l illustrates in plan, a preferred style of'sealing ring used to secure the upholstery to my metal seat or back members, and Fig. 5 is an'end view of said strap-like band.

Fig. 6 shows in further detail, a top view of my upholstered metal seat that may be used in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, and Fig. 7

is a cross sectional view thereof as taken along line 77 of Fig. 6 to indicate one manner in which said sealing ring may be utilized to trim the margin of the upholstery cover fabric.

Fig. 8 represents an enlarged fragmental view of Fig. 7 and discloses the relationship of the component upholstery elements prior to forcing said ring into an endless seat groove, while Fig. 9 is illustrative of the aforesaid upholstery after said sealing ring has been secured in place.

Fig. 10 shows a preferred sectional style of seat structure in which the upholstered cushion pad has been separately formed and as a unit inserted into a suitable seat recess.

Fig. 11 shows an enlarged detail of Fig. 10 while Fig. 12 represents a cross-sectional View of said unitary seat panel as used in connection with Fig. 10.

Referrin in detail to said drawings, my upholstere composite seat and back members may be applied to a chair of the reversibly folding type which in the instance shown, comprises a pair of spaced strap-like front legs A and A this chair may also comprise a similar pair of rear legs designated as B and B respectively pivoted at B intermediate their ends to one of said front legs in accordance with usual practice. The upper extrem- .ities A and A of said front legs may respectively extend beyond the complementary ends of the rear legs as shown, it being understood that the respective leg pairs are to be interconnected by rung means in the straddled manner indicated. In collapsed chair position, all of said leg members are intended to fall into substantial alignment in the conventional fashion.

Across the free upper ends of the rear legs B and B complementary pivots such as C may swivally carry the forward portion of the sheet-metal seat upper front leg extremities A and-A may each likewise be provided with complementary pivots such as D between which there may be swivally mounted the sheet metal back D that may be given a cross-sectional shape and contour similar to that of the seat 0. The adjacent edges of said seat and back C. The inwardly offset v are shown-linked together by complementary top plate.

hinge means such as D which serves to guide said back into inverted collapsed position upon its seat member. By virtue of the present invention, either or both the metal seat frame G and back frame D may similarly be provided with an upholstered cushion pad designated in its entirety by E, and it will be observed that thiscushioning pad is preferably given a rounded profile made to extend outwardly beyond the plane of the body contacting face to which it is applied. When said seat and back members are completely collapsed into alignment with said folded leg members, the more fragile cushioned seat and back faces may thus be made to lie upon each other and are given ample protection while the folded chair is being stacked for storage or otherwise handled.

, The remaining structural chair details suitable for present purposes, have been more fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 298,170 as filed Aug. 8, 1928. The instant disclosure is more largely concerned with perfecting said upholstered cushion means. To this end, Fig. 6 shows the annular top or bodycontacting seat face C of my sheet metal frame as equipt with my improved upholstered cushion pad, it being apparent that by identical means such upholsterymight likewise be applied to the forward or body contacting face of the foldable back member D, also to any kind of fixedly mounted furniture panels other than the foldable type of chair seat 'or back members herein more specifically described. The 'term seat panel as used in the claims is to be. construed broadly as being inclusive of a back panel and likewise of any other similar furniture element such as might prove applicable to bedsteads, bureaus or the like.

As will be seen-from Fig. 7, said annular sheet-metal top face C preferably has the:

marginal edges thereof shaped up to provide for a depending circumscribing seat flange G that imparts the desired stiffness to said Within the face confines of said flange there is further provided an impressed endless channel-likeTrofile havingrcomple mentary inner and outer side walls C and, C respectively, while the bottom thereof may be closed by the transversely disposed ledge wall Q or the like. The innermost wall 0 preferably is given an essentially rabbet-like shape with its depth kept somewhat shorter than its mate and the uppermost edge of the wall C being crimped to provide for a centering bead C which in turn, may be spanned by a metal dished crown plate or equivalent backing element C that is preferably kept slightly depressed relative to the level of the top face C as shown. An outstanding attribute of said backing memberlies in its being relatively nonstretchable longitudinally considered and in also being relatively rigid against transverse loading.

The particular plan contour given to said rear seat edge, said groove may be given a more rounded shape that recedes from the respective contiguous corners of the substantially square shape here given to the seat face.

' of the rear corner regions may further be provided with depressions of triangular shape such as C, which feature is however non-essential except for decorative purposes.

The upholstered cushioning means E as applied to my metal seat or back, preferably comprisesan endless retaining or binder ring E which as detailed in Figs. 4 and 5, is preferably made. from strap metal stock bent into loop shape that closely conforms to the shape and size given to the innermost grooveface C and is intended to be stretched somewhat when the band E is forced in place. The endsof said ring may be fastened together in any suitable fashion but to facilitate ease and cheapness in fabrication, it is preferred to resort to the interlockingstyle of keeper joint E indicated in Fig. 5 but it will be. obvious that such strap ends may also be otherwise joined together.

Said cushioning pad means may further comprise a sheet of pliant fabric cover such as tapestry cloth, leather, leatheroid, or the like suitable chair upholstery material designated as IE Underneath the assembled fabric and disposed on top of the metal panel plate C", is provided suitable cushioning material which may comprise a relatively thin layer of corrugated paper board or the like sheet filler medium E"; superimposed thereon is a relatively thick layer of wadding E preferably comprising felt or other soft fibrous cushioning material. The present invention is more largely concerned with improvedmeans for securing the border region of the fabric E which cover does not however necessarily have to be stuffed as described,

Both the fille medium E and the cushionin material 4 .are intended to be first cut out 0 sheet stock to an approximate size or pattern somewhat smaller than the contour defined by the inner groove wall C in the mannerindicatedby Fig. 8, where the component upholstery parts are shown partially ass'embled and centeredupon the depressed If desired, said rear seat corners mayeach be equipt with an outwardly projecting V to said seat frame.

metal panel plate 0' prior to their securement The inside dimension of my sealingring E is preferably made of bore size that will snugly embrace the outermost dimension given to the groove wall C hence when this ring isfirmly pressed down into place with the margin of the fabric E interosed in clamped relation therebetween in I the fashion indicated in Fig. 11, the retaining band will be forcibly elongated somewhat while. snugly drawing and stretching the fabric over the enclosed sheet wadding E, which in turn causes the edges of the cushioning medium to assume a curvilineal profile that imparts a neat rounded appearance to the finished upholstery as a whole. The projecting edge of the surplus fabric may thereupon be trimmed off adjacent to the lowermost free band edge; said binder ring is preferably made of a strap width approximately equal to the efi'ective depth of the groove C so that the uppermost exposed ring edge may fall substantially flush with the beaded perimeter of the upholstered panel plate 0. It will be obvious that the described ring securement is intended to be such as will frictionally maintain the fabric in a proper stretched relation across that portion of the body contact facing that is circumscribed by said frame groove. In the present invention, the binding of the fabric border is primarily accomplished by radial pressure exerted inwardly against the groove face C while the external band surface is kept freely spacedin relation to the circumscribing groove wall C in the gap-wise fashion shown in Fig. 11.

Referring now to the preferred style of sectional upholstered seat panel illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, this comprises an equivalent groove designated as G one side wall thereof namely the outer groove Wall (1 is here carried in an annular sheet-metal frame part substantially similar to that previously described and likewise provides for a circumscribing seat flange C with an annular top seat face C therefor from which the aforesaid interior plate element C may or may not be pierced to provide for a steplike ledge or bottom wall C Seated upon this overhanging ledge is a unitary insertable cushion pad E comprising the dished metal crown plate or similar relatively rigid backing means C" together with a normally dis posed inner side wall or rabbet-like abutment U, which latter may in the present instance virtue of the shown pierced in Figs.

circumscribing frame socket by other suitthis sectional. unitary panel, the depressed crown plate and. its beaded perimeteragain serve to center the wadding while the upholstering process is being completed. It will further be observed that the relation of band strap thickness to the groove Width is preferably such as not to totally fill the groove in the conventional manner; instead the present disposition purposely provides for a clearance gap around the band exterior so that my upholstered pad may be freely inserted within the outer groove face C By the use of the described instrumentalities, the metal seat and back frame members of my chair may firstbe japan finished in any desired color, whereupon a harmonized shade upholstery fabric may be applied thereto, all of which results in producing a pleasing and attractive chair product. The nonmetallic cushioning medium when attached to my metal frame further removes the disagreeable cold seat feel to which a user of an all metal chair might otherwise be subjected. In addition, my sheet metal seat member by described groove and flange reenforcements is made relatively stiff and amply rigid to resist undue distortion undernormal body 'loads, and the mode of initially stretching and securing the upholstery thereon-is such as, will during extended use, ob-

viate loosening or sagging on part of the fabric This result is herein obtained in a simple and expeditious manner without need of nails, cement or other extraneous band or fabric securement of any kind,

Although certain specific embodiments and shapes of metal chair members have herein been set forth, ll do not wish to be limited to the cited arrangement or form of chair parts, since various changes may be resorted to such ascarrying the ledge wall C entirely across the open center region that is 10 and 11, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, heretofore described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Claims:'

1. A chair. panel comprising a relatively non-stretchable backing plate, the upper surface of. which has a groove that is inset from at least one panel side, covering-material superimposed on said plate, and an endless and passing through said groove and en gaging the edges of said covering-material to hold the latter in place solely by frictional engagement.

2. An upholstered panel for furniture comprising a substantially rigid and non-extensible backing, a pliant upholstery material superimposed to cover said backing in coa operative reenforced relation, padding means interposed between the cover and said backing, and an endless binding hoop circumscribing the backing and serving to stretch the covering-material over said padding, a part of said circumscribing hoop being sunk in the upper surface of' the panel and located inwardly from the perimeter of the panel.

3. A sheet-metal panel for furniture comprising a substantially rigid backing plate having an outstanding marginal flange, upholstery material covering said plate in cooperative reenforced relation, and a stretchable endless metal band embracing said flange and binding the border region of the upholstery material thereto, said band being located wholly inwardly from the panel perimeter.

4. An upholstered seat panel comprising an exposed annular body-contacting face together with a transversely rigid and longitudinally non-stretchable backing means spanning said annular face and the marginal region of which backing'is encompassed by. an endless depression, cushioned upholstery material covering said backing in coopera tive reenforced relation, and a hoop entered into said depression to initially stretch the upholstery material over the marginal region of said backing and to bind said stretched material thereto, said backing serving to support said cushioned material and to relax the hoop tensioning pull when the seat panel be comes "loaded. I

5. A ring-shaped seat panel having a body contacting-face, and an attachable pad which comprises a relatively rigid backing, an up continuously binding the border of the cover bolstered fabric superimposed to cover said backing 1n cooperative reenforced relation, together with a single endless metal hoop fabric around the perimeter of said backing, said pad being disposed to substantially fill the central region circumscribed by the ringshaped panel. i

6. A furniture panel comprising a pad structure includin 1a sheet-metal backing plate, a marginal epending flange for said plate and also an intermediate rim-likebead of rounded profile that is'kept raised with respect to one side face of said plate, an upholstery fabric disposed to cover said one plate .side, an interposed cushioning medium to clampingly embrace said flange and bind 1 stretchable hoop of strap-like profile entered edge wise between said walls, the interior sur face dimension of said hoop being sized to clampingly embrace said complementary Q wall and ti htly bind the border -of said material th'ereietween. i

In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand this 24th day of August, 1928.

' BRUCE M. STANNAR-D.

centered within said bead, and a stretchable i hooplike retaining means interiorly sized 

